SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) leader and seven-time MLA Abdul Rahim Rather is poised to become the next Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, according to Daily Excelsior. The National Conference, which emerged as the largest party in the Assembly following recent elections, has also decided to offer the position of Deputy Speaker to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the second-largest party in the House.
Insiders from the National Conference told the Jammu based newspaper that the decision to field Rather for the post of Speaker was based on his extensive experience in the Legislature. Both he and Ali Mohammad Sagar are the only two MLAs to have been elected to the Legislative Assembly for seven consecutive terms. Rather has also handled key portfolios, most notably as Finance Minister, and served as Leader of the Opposition during the PDP-Congress coalition government.
Mubarak Gul, another veteran NC leader and seven-time MLA, is expected to be sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker, likely on Monday. Gul, who served as Speaker during the National Conference-Congress coalition government, will be sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. His duties as Pro-tem Speaker will include administering the oath to newly elected MLAs and overseeing the election of the Speaker, the newspaper reported.
In a move aimed at ensuring smooth proceedings in the Assembly, the National Conference has offered the post of Deputy Speaker to the BJP, with both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker likely to be elected unanimously. This gesture reflects a desire for cooperation despite political differences and mirrors a 2015 arrangement in which the PDP-BJP government gave the Deputy Speaker post to the NC.
According to sources within the NC, the newspaper reported that the BJP has not yet been formally notified of the offer for the Deputy Speaker post, but this is expected to happen soon. The first session of the Legislative Assembly is anticipated to take place in the first week of November under the newly formed National Conference-led government. Congress will have no issue with JKNC offering the Deputy Speaker’s post to BJP, the newspaper added.
